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Sheena is the CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI), an organization dedicated to passing and implementing laws that automatically seal eligible records for people who have completed their sentence and remained crime-free, and expands who is eligible for record sealing. 

Prior to becoming the CEO of CSI, Sheena helped found the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC). While working at FRRC with Desmond Meade, her husband, she dove into her work with people impacted by the legal system, helping restore voting rights to 1.4 million people in Florida with felony convictions. “That’s what sparked my passion in this work,” says Dr. Meade, “but I too, am someone who lives without a clean slate, and has an arrest and conviction on my record.”

Sheena has been leading The Clean Slate Initiative for 5 years. What began as a 2 year project and campaign, grew into a national movement. The project began with 3 people, and now the organization has over 40 on staff. Clean Slate has passed into law in 13 states and Washington, D.C., putting 18 million people on the path to having a fully or partially sealed record.

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Illinois had one of the most diverse coalitions promoting the Clean Slate movement. “Law enforcement, business communities, grassroots organizations, grasstops, labor, directly-impacted led organizations, attorneys– everybody was involved and people understood that this was a public safety issue,” Sheena says. “This was an issue that was important for our economy as well.” The Clean Slate Initiative invested in Illinois during Sheena’s first year working with the project. Since then they have been able to pass the law which will position Illinois to reclaim 4.7 billion dollars in lost wages once it’s implemented in 2030. 

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“It wasn’t just Illinois,” Sheena adds, “There have been many journeys, many ups and downs, ebbs and flows, a lot of emotions.” Sheena recalls the movement in New York, where they had been reassured the bill would clear legislation day, but found out at the last minute that it wasn’t going to pass. “We could have taken that as a loss or disappointment, but all it did was fuel the passion and fire of the activists on the ground, my staff, and myself.” Sheena points out that these setbacks only increased the momentum of the movement. “By the time the Clean Slate passed in New York, everybody was talking about it. It became more of a household conversation across the state, and that is what I want to happen across the country.”

The most rewarding part of Sheena’s work is learning the stories of the people whose lives are impacted by The Clean Slate Initiative. There’s Elvina, a woman who finally saw nothing when searching online for her record, and excitedly shared a screenshot of the blank search with Sheena. There’s also Mary, who was able to get an apartment in her name the first time in years. “These are the moments that really touch my heart,” Sheena says. “This journey has been a beautiful one that keeps my cup full.” 

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People who want to get involved can reach out directly to The Clean Slate Initiative. CSI hosts retreats and leadership development programming for those who have been directly impacted. Sheena states that “everyone can do their part by reaching out to their congressperson about sponsoring Clean Slate.” In addition to getting involved in the legal process, Sheena affirms that one of the best ways to support the Clean Slate movement is to have conversations about it. She says that there are many people out across the country who don’t talk about how they are directly impacted because of the stigma attached to criminal records. “We all have one second chance. Just be open to giving people those second chances.”